Financial Strength Ratings - Insurance Companies
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January 2018 Financial Strength Ratings - Insurance Companies Insurers Licensed Under the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2010 Approved Rating Agencies Standard & Key General Insurers A.M.Best Fitch Poor's AA Insurance Ltd A+ (strong) AIG New Zealand Ltd A (strong) Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Company Ltd ( MS&AD Holdings) A+ Allianz New Zealand Insurance Limited AA- AMI Insurance Limited (Division of IAG) AA- Atradius Credit Insurance NV A A Berkshire Hathaway International Insurance Limited AA+ A++ CBL Insurance Ltd A- (Stable) Chubb Insurance Core Operating Insurance Companies AA (Stable) Chubb Insurance New Zealand AA-(Stable) Civic Assurance B+ FM Insurance Ltd A+ FMG Insurance Ltd A IAG New Zealand Ltd ( NZI, AMI and State) AA- Lloyd's of London A+ A AA- [Lumley/NZI] is a business division of IAG New Zealand Ltd (IAG). IAG has received a financial strength rating of AA- Maritime Mutual (Equifax) BBB (Sound) Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Ltd A+(Stable) A+(Stable) Pacific International Insurance Ltd B++ QBE Insurance (International) Ltd (new Zealand Branch) A+ Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Company Ltd A (stable) The New India Assurance Co Ltd A- Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co. Lt global A+ A+ A++ Tower Insurance Limited A- Vero Insurance New Zealand Ltd A+ Vero Liability Insurance Ltd New Zealand A+ Zurich Australian Insurance Limited trading as Zurich New Zealand A+ January 2018 Rating Definitions The insurer financial strength rating table for Standard & Poor’s (Australia) Pty Ltd is: AAA (Extremely Strong) AA (Very Strong) A (Strong) BBB (Good) BB (Marginal) B (Weak) CCC (Very Weak) CC (Extremely Weak) SD (Selective Default) D (Default) R (Regulatory Supervision) NR (Not Rated) Notes: Ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified be the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories. Full details of the rating scale is available on www.standardandpoors.com The insurer financial strength rating table for A M Best is: Secure Vulnerable A++, A+ (Superior) B, B- (Fair) A, A- (Excellent) C++, C+ (Marginal) B++, B+ (Good) C, C- (Weak) D (Poor) E (Under Regulatory Supervision) F (In Liquidation) S (Ratings Suspended) The insurer financial strength rating table for Fitch is: AAA: Exceptionally strong 'AAA' IFS Ratings denote the lowest expectation of ceased or interrupted payments. They are assigned only in the case of exceptionally strong capacity to meet policyholder and contract obligations. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events. AA: Very strong 'AA' IFS Ratings denote a very low expectation of ceased or interrupted payments. They indicate very strong capacity to meet policyholder and contract obligations. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events. A: Strong 'A' IFS Ratings denote a low expectation of ceased or interrupted payments. They indicate strong capacity to meet policyholder and contract obligations. This capacity may, nonetheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings. BBB: Good 'BBB' IFS Ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of ceased or interrupted payments. The capacity to meet policyholder and contract obligations on a timely basis is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and economic conditions are more likely to impact this capacity. BB: Moderately weak 'BB' IFS Ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to ceased or interrupted payments, particularly as the result of adverse economic or market changes over time. However, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow for policyholder and contract obligations to be met in a timely manner. January 2018 B: Weak 'B' IFS Ratings indicate two possible conditions. If obligations are still being met on a timely basis, there is significant risk that ceased or interrupted payments could occur in the future, but a limited margin of safety remains. Capacity for continued timely payments is contingent upon a sustained, favourable business and economic environment, and favourable market conditions. Alternatively, a 'B' IFS Rating is assigned to obligations that have experienced ceased or interrupted payments, but with the potential for extremely high recoveries. Such obligations would possess a recovery assessment of 'RR1' (Outstanding). CCC: Very weak 'CCC' IFS Ratings indicate two possible conditions. If obligations are still being met on a timely basis, there is a real possibility that ceased or interrupted payments could occur in the future. Capacity for continued timely payments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favourable business and economic environment, and favourable market conditions. Alternatively, a 'CCC' IFS Rating is assigned to obligations that have experienced ceased or interrupted payments, and with the potential for average to superior recoveries. Such obligations would possess a recovery assessment of 'RR2' (Superior), 'RR3' (Good), and 'RR4' (Average). CC: Extremely weak 'CC' IFS Ratings indicate two possible conditions. If obligations are still being met on a timely basis, it is probable that ceased or interrupted payments will occur in the future. Alternatively, a 'CC' IFS Rating is assigned to obligations that have experienced ceased or interrupted payments, with the potential for average to below-average recoveries. Such obligations would possess a recovery assessment of 'RR4' (Average) or 'RR5' (Below Average). C: Distressed 'C' IFS Ratings indicate two possible conditions. If obligations are still being met on a timely basis, ceased or interrupted payments are imminent. Alternatively, a 'C' IFS Rating is assigned to obligations that have experienced ceased or interrupted payments, and with the potential for below average to poor recoveries. Such obligations would possess a recovery assessment of 'RR5' (Below Average) or 'RR6' (Poor). Notes: "+" or "-" may be appended to a rating to indicate the relative position of a credit within the rating category. Such suffixes are not added to ratings in the 'AAA' category or to ratings below the 'B' category. .